Retort for the distillation of coal



Dec.. 5, 1933. H. STEVENS l 1,933,122

RETORT FOR THE? DIsTILLATIoN oF COAL' I I Filed oct. 18, 1950 2sheets-sheet 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'NVEW M y ATTORNEYS Dec. 5, 1933. H.STEVENS RETORT FOR THE DISTILLATION OF COAL Filed oct. 18. 1930 PatentedDee. s, 1933 RETORT FOR THE DISTILLATION 0F COAL Harold Stevens,Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Harold Stevens,trustee Application October 18, 1930. Serial No. 489,534

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in starting resistors such as areused in the distilling of coal as described in my copending applicationSerial No. 489,535, filed October 18,

In that process of distilling coal a charge of coal is-introduced into aretort with an electrical resistor means embedded in the charge andconnected so, that current may be passed therethrough. In operation theresistor becomes heated by its resistance to the passage of currenttherethrough and the coal is heated progressively outward from the pointof application of the heat. As the coal cokes the coked portions act asadditional resistor means.

It is one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide asimple and effective starting resistor.

I accomplish the foregoing by means of a construction which I haveillustrated in the preferred form, wherein- Fig. 1 is a vertical sectionthrough a retort with my improved resistor in place.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View partially in section 23 showing theconstruction of the resistor.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, of a modificationof the resistor.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a modification of the invention.

This application is vin part a continuation of my application Serial No.686,053, led January 14, 1924.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the reference numeral 7indicates the retort which may be of any suitable construction such asdescribed in my copending application Serial No. 489,535 referred toabove wherein a removable closure member 7a (see Figure 1 herein) servesto permit `downward discharge after treatment of the coal. The referencenumeral 8 indicates the starting fuse or resistor and the referencenumerals 9 and 10 the electrodes therefor. The electrode 10 ispreferably made of the construction illustrated, described and claimedin my copending application Serial No. 489,532, led October 18, 1930.

The resistor 8 is composed of a tube 8a which may be composed of paperor metal, preferably the latter, and which is lled with coke 11 or othersuitable material. The tube is preferably corrugated as indicated at 12in Fig. 3 for purposes of lightness and strength.

The fuse is introduced through the electrode 10 and the tube 8a may beleft in place or removed through the electrode after the retort has beencharged, as may be desired. In this connection the coke withinl the tubeis preferably sufficiently coarse as to be retained'in position by thecharge even on withdrawal of the tube 8a. When the tube is withdrawnprior to treatment, the coke of the resistor device,of course, isremoved with the charge after treatment thereof. Ifl desired, the tube8a may be made of tin, bismuth, cadmium or other material functioning asa catalyst, in which case the tube is left in position. The tin, bismuthor cadmium is coated on the tube or alloyed with other metals toconstitute the tube. These catalysts apparently function to alter thetarry acids produced in distillation into substantially neutralcompounds. Other catalysts may be used for other purposes.

In Fig. 4 the electrodes 9a and 10a are spring held and are entered intothe ends of the tube 12. In operation, in case of shrinkage of thestarting core of coke or of shrinkage or slight settling of the charge,the springs operate to advance the electrodes, thereby maintainingproper contact and thus maintaining a path for the current.

In the arrangement of Fig. l, instead of having the electrodes springheld as in Fig. 4, the upper electrode has a gravity feed for thepurpose of maintaining contact. To this end it slidably fits in thestuiing box 13, and the supporting cable is slacked 01T after charging.85

Attention is called to the fact that various features herein disclosedare described and claimed in one or more of the following of mycopending applications: Serial No. 489,530, filed October 18, 1930;Serial No. 489,532, filed October 18, 1930; Serial No. 489,535, filedOctober 18, 1930; and Serial No. 489,536, led October 18, 1930.

I claim:-

1. In a retort for distiuing solid earbonizame materials, an electrodeat the bottom of the retort, an electrode at the top of the retort, saidelectrodes being substantially centrally located in the retort and theupper electrode being hollow, and a resistor device insertible andremovable through said hollow electrode, the resistor device including ametallic tubular part of length sufficient to complete a current pathbe-l tween the electrodes, and separate particles of coke filling saidtube.

2. In a retort for distilling solid carbonizable materials, an electrodeat the bottom of the retort, an electrode at the top of the retort, saidelectrodes being substantially centrally located in the retort and theupper electrode being hol- 110 low, and a resistor device insertible andremovable through said hollow electrode, the resistor device beingadapted to complete a current path between the electrodes and includingdiscrete coke-like particles, and a form retaining shell adaptedtoposition said particles in electrically conducting relation duringcharging of the retort, ythe upper electrode and said shell beingarranged so as to eect withdrawal of the latter through said hollowelectrode when the charging has been completed.

3. In a retort for distilling solid carbonizable materials, an electrodeat the bottom of the retort, an apertured electrode at the top of theretort projecting downwardly into the retort for a substantial distance,and a resistor device insertible and removable into the retort throughsaid apertured electrode, the resistor device being adapted to completea current path between the electrodes and including discrete coke-likeparticles,l and a form retaining shell adapted to position saidparticles in electrically conducting relation during charging of theretort, the resistor device being of suiiicient length to span thedistance between said electrodes and to extend into the aperture of theupper electrode for a substantial distance, and the upper electrode andsaid shell being arranged so as to eiect withdrawal of the latterthrough said aperture when the charging has been completed.

HAROLD STEVENS.

